Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-05-15
FROM THE vAKrnA.
A COUNTRY THAT Is DEVELOPING RAP
HDLT-LooEEEe TO sE8rTLE
EnR NAEEEr
EDFroR PosT-IxrKLL1aExcrR:


FoR NAEEET.
EDITOR PosT-ISTELL1sExcER:
This morning IS bright, beautiful and
warm Birds are singing, cattle and
horses are seen in every direction
grazing upon the hiHsides, and all Ma
ture seems joyful. The spring, until
the past week, has been cold and back
ward. March was stormy, bleak and
cold. April has been better, but no.
warm enough to bring forward early
planted gardens. Just now the wea-
Their Is warmer, and. il it continues,
viii start vegetation rapidly. The
ground being bare Of snow during a
portion of the past winter caused many
fields Of fall-sown wheat to freeze out
and to be re-sown this spring.
The amount Of land brought under
cultivation this year will be greater
than IN any previous year. Some par
ties | am told, are planting melons.
corn, tomatoes. and other truck which
does not grow to perfection in yonr
climate, hoping that the cars viii be
running to the Sound in time to mar
ket their crops in the Queen City and
Tacoma. II at some future date q
railroad should be bailt direct from
Seattle 20 the bunch-grass country. a
lively trade viii spring up between the
two polnts-a trade which will last for
ever. Nearly every one here speaks OF
seattle as the prominent place upon
the Sound Other towns don't seem
70 be generally known. l cannot say
why il Is so, but Tacoma. large and
wealthy as it IS. Is seldom named.
When communication is complete
across the Cascade Mountains, grain
of all kinds will be sent to you. and the
best OF beef and mutton will reach
your slaughter-houses without being
driven over long and tedious trails.
The man who can secure thirty acres
of good soil and the remainder of his
quarter section good bunch grass can
make an easy living here. II he has
outlying range, of course he can in
crease his herd Of cattle or band OF
sheep. and, by keeping them in good
condition during the winter months,
can find a market for them on the
Sound at fair prices. Occasionally
there are settlers here who will sell
their right 10 the land they occupy
without making final proof. Such
agreements are always private and
never made public; even the courts
could not get hold of them. The man
who wants the land gives the occupant
a price to leave It, so that the new
conner may take possession. Good
land here will always bring a price,
owing to its being so near market on
the Sound.
Mr.. A. L. Sherman, who was born
aud raised near Tacoma, came here
three years ago for the benefit Of his
health. He took a homestead some
p miles from Yakima and and 25mlles
from Ellensburg. He was Obliged 70
return each season to attend 20 picking
the hops on his Puyallup farm. Hav-
ing become satisfied that his health
was better in this climate, he sold his
Puyallup farm and bought out his
nearest neighbours place, containing
20 acres. Not more than 80 acres is
bottom or valley land, the remainder
bunch grass hills. The improvements
were . acres fenced, house OF common
rough lumber and a large barn well
constructed. The price paid was $500
/ know Of two upland places upon one
section; one is 1T present vacant and
contains 40 to 50 acres OF fair upland
which may be irrigated by using well
and windmill, the remainder IS fine
grazing The other is occupied by a
houlesteader and has 80 to 90 acres of
good upland. which may be irrigated
by bringing water half a mile from a
canyon. The country around is the
best OF grazing. The improvements
upon the place are a small log house, q
well 81 feet deep, six acres well fenced,
which have grown corn, potatoes, to-
matoeS, beans, peas, &c, IN fair crops
without using water. 1t has not been
offered for sale, but / am satisfied that
the present owner would be better of
with eleven OF twelve hundred dollars
in gold 10 put at interest, II he could
be made 10 see il in that light. because
he is too intirm 20 completely improve
il. II he would abandon it and allow
another man to homestead, and At the
same time file upon the other quarter
section as timber culture" on which
he Is not compelled 10 reside. he would
have a good stock farm with houndless
range and plenty Of timber within four
miles.
write the above because il viii an
swer many questions which Will natur-
ally be asked about the country. Two
years hence a place will be valuable
where one can. with a single days easy
drive. put cattle or sheep on the cars
for the Sound.
BENJAMIN DoLBEAR.
WENts, Yakima county, W. T., May
ad TS--